After getting off to 13-10 start this season, the Nets lost 17 of their next 21 games. Even after back-to-back wins on Saturday and Monday, they now own an underwhelming 19-27 record, which isn’t good enough for a play-in spot. However, Brooklyn’s front office isn’t any more willing to listen to inquiries on forward Mikal Bridges than it was earlier this season, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
The Rockets recently expressed interest in Bridges and conveyed a willingness to offer back several of the Nets’ own draft assets that they gave up for James Harden, league sources tell Scotto. However, talks didn’t move forward because Brooklyn wasn’t willing to entertain the idea of moving the 27-year-old.
Brian Lewis of The New York Post (subscription required) confirmed a few days ago that Bridges is still viewed as “essentially untouchable” and suggested that even if Houston was willing to return all of Brooklyn’s draft assets, the Nets wouldn’t consider it. The Rockets still control the Nets’ unprotected first-round picks in 2024 and 2026, along with the right to swap first-rounders with Brooklyn in 2025 and 2027.
Here’s more on the Nets:
- Point guard Spencer Dinwiddie appears increasingly unlikely to remain in Brooklyn beyond this season, according to Scotto. That doesn’t necessarily mean Dinwiddie will be moved by next Thursday though, since the Nets could also try to do a sign-and-trade with him this offseason, like they did back in 2021 when he left Brooklyn for Washington.
- Rival executives who have spoken to HoopsHype believe the Nets could potentially extract a first-round pick and a rotation player in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith and multiple second-round picks for Royce O’Neale, says Scotto.
- While Dejounte Murray is still the Lakers‘ top trade target, Los Angeles continues to have interest in a handful of Nets players, including Finney-Smith, O’Neale, and Dinwiddie, Shams Charania of The Athletic said during an appearance on FanDuel’s Run it Back (Twitter video link).
- Brian Windhorst of ESPN (Insider link) identified Dinwiddie as the most likely Net to be traded by the deadline and noted that Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell has been “floated” as a possibility for Brooklyn. I imagine the Lakers would only be interested in a Dinwiddie/Russell swap if they could acquire a wing like Finney-Smith or O’Neale in the same deal by sending the Nets another asset or two.
- Before making any deadline moves, the Nets are hoping to evaluate how their rotation looks with Ben Simmons back in the fold, Scotto observes. The former No. 1 overall pick was in high spirits after having a big game in his return on Monday, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. “It’s amazing because this is probably one of the best teams in terms of just friendships I’ve been a part of. Everyone gets along, we don’t have egos or anything like that on the team, and guys want to win and compete,” Simmons said. “So for me to be able to be in an environment like this is amazing. I get to come to work with a bunch of friends that want to get better and compete. So, I’m happy.”
Jalen Green, salary fillers the Nets pick in 2024 for Bridges.
Zero chance Houston trades Green anytime this decade unless he demands one. He’s headed toward T-Mac/Harden level greatness once he hits his prime… what about Cam Whitmore/Landale/Oladipo & cancel the pick swaps for Mikal?…
tho tbh there’s zero chance they’re trading Whitmore either
Right now I’d be a lot more willing to trade Green than Whitmore if I were the Rockets.
I wouldn’t trade either tbh
lol you want to trade left over slop and some pick swaps for Bridges.
You might wanna google Cam Whitmore
And you may want to Google Jalen Green. He’s a ball stopper and his shot selection is awful at best. I’ve seen him pass up open shots then three plays later force a 17 footer in double coverage with time still left on the shot clock. His 3P% and FG% have gotten worse each season he’s played. There’s a reason Udoka has benched him down the stretch at various points this season.
Took your advice & googled Jalen Green. Apparently he’s one of the best young basketball players in the world. Who knew? Anyway this is him going for 34pts/12rebs/7asts with only 1 turnover night before last, while clearly outplaying your fave, Austin Reaves… link to m.youtube.com
Google must have auto corrected you to Jalen Williams, Jalen Duren, Jalen Johnson, Jaden McDaniels or maybe Jaden Hardy if the search results returned “one of the best young basketball players in the world”.
You need talent vision to see great young talent. And you need real development and real commitment to achieve ultimate success. Google or these haters can’t tell you that. Green will turn 22 in Feb. that use to be the age rookies entered the NBA.
Green is a Big time talent …..
He’s 21 yrs old. And you think you figured him out. He’s got more talent than any Rocket. All you haters here who just know 19-24 yr olds. Would have probably traded Kobe too. Cause he was one biggest nuts around. (and I hope you know what that means).
This is the first yr. Green is probably getting real coaching.
Cam was thought to be a Top 5 pick last year by most ‘experts’, and him falling to HOU at 20 was absurd. Whitmore will be a quality starter/all star for the next decade, for anyone to call him (or Jalen Green for that matter) slop, really doesn’t follow basketball.
Green is one of the least efficient scorers in the NBA with next to no defensive ability. The only things he does well are shoot corner 3s and grab rebounds (for a guard). Still plays almost the same way as when he was as a rookie.
Cam Thomas is a better SG, and he’s still not what I’d want in a trade.
Add in that Bridges is on a team-friendly deal until 2026 and that offer is awful. Whitmore is closer, but still wouldn’t make that deal if I were the Nets. Not for the best overall player on the team with multiple seasons left on his deal.
Another great analysis …….
Do you even know the teams he’s played on. Or the coaching he’s had. Efficiency is based on Team activity and team work. You want to kill a 19-20 yr old for the teams growing pains. And the coaching staff that isn’t there anymore.
If you look at the Rockets roster, Green could realistically be 4-6 on their priority list of players to keep. He’s been incredibly inconsistent every year. I think he’s definitely behind Sengun, Jabari and Tari in regards to the young core. You can start an argument whether Whitmore and Amen are trending to being above him. It’s not always about the player. They have to decide who they’re willing to pay soon. Sengun is a lock. Green is going to demand a huge contract without the results to get one. He’s still all potential and he’s halfway thru year 3. He’s not on a Harden/TMac trajectory.
This what you call blind talent vision….
It’s not “blind talent vision” it’s being realistic about roster construction.
Sengun for sure, Jabari – Maybe/Probably, Eason- no. Jalen Green is still very young, and can become a 25+ pt /gm scorer and a perennial all star type G in the league. He was the 1st high draft choice piece of this current Rockets rebuild. Rebuilding from nothing , and starting with a 19 year old kid takes time .
I’m not saying that Brooklyn should trade Mikal, as a 76ers fan who watched his whole career at Nova, then getting excited that he fell to 10 and the 76ers picked him, I was extremely happy for less than an hour before the smacked asses in the front office then traded him for Zhaire Smith & a pick, after watching Mikal and his Mom (who worked for the 76ers!) Crying bc they were so happy on TV.Bridges is an all star already , and can be a superstar if surrounded by the right talent. However, BRK should probably trade DFS, Dinwiddie, and probably one of the Cam’s, since the 1st 2 are UFAs after the season, and the Cam’s Bridges, and Ben Simmons would be 4 players whose best position is probably the 3, (maybe the 2 for Thomas), but better fitting pieces will help alot
Zero chance they trade Brooklyn Bridges ..
He’s not only a legit 2way star. He’s a great citizen too. He’ll retire a Net.
I used to think Houston was a horrible team but I think they have had a great rebuild with nice young players. I hate the Van Fleet contract. I would do the opposite as everyone in this chat. Develop Green at PG because he is 6’3. Next year trade Van Fleet for the expiring contract of Ben Simmons, Cam Thomas and 1sts. Brooks for draft assets, draft a young SG
I like the Ben Simmons trade idea.
They’re still are a horrible team. They just overpaid for some vets which made them good enough for their pick to fall lower in the lottery. They’ve got a few keepers in Şengün, Smith and Eason along with maybe Thompson and Whitmore though.
Horrible? Relax. They’re a solid young team in a position to make the playoffs/play in.
I said I thought. Please read
Van Fleet.
The first time I thought it was a typo. then you did it again. You sure know your hoops.
Wow dude.
Bro, you’re insane!!
Tell me you don’t know ball without telling you don’t know ball!
Who the heck hasn’t heard of the living legend Van Fleet!?!
What is wrong with you man, and you call yourself an icon??
Yeah, you know Van Fleet. He’s on the Rockets with Jalen Preen and Dillon Cooks,
Fred VanVleet my bad. Wow can’t make one mistake without everyone crying. These kids have no life today. Get a job and try to treat others with respect you clowns
…I was just messing bud, I can’t stand when morons use that “tell me you don’t know [] without telling me you don’t know [] line..
Anyways, your reply was pretty funny..lol Thanks for the laugh.
Of course anytime
A discussion of Ben Simmons wanting to “get better and compete” without mentioning that he’s questionable on the injury report for tonight’s game (knee)?
Get better soon, Mr. most overpaid “player” ever!
I am not sure if the Lakers want Ben Simmons in the deal. Nets can attach Sun’s unprotected first round picks.
Lakers have a great trade idea because Nets view D-Lo as a huge value.
Trade Idea
Lakers get Murray
Hawks get Finney Smith
2029 unprotected first-round pick (via Lakers)
Nets get D-Lo
Lakers 2028 First round swap
hard pass
^Random test required.
BKN has turned down offers for Bridges that included 4 FRPs from at least 2 teams (albeit the quality of them wasn’t certain). I don’t think it’s in an effort to get 5. I think they determined that his age, character and 2 way abilities make him a building block.
In the unlikely event BKN changes their mind before the deadline, the template is wandering too far from that. I doubt Green moves the needle for them. He’s a mess right now; but, nevertheless, he and his AAU BB agents will be looking for an extension this off season. A winning HOU bid would likely need to include both BKN FRPs, both swaps being undone, and at least 2 HOU FRPs (light protection). I’d want Eason, for sure, but otherwise they can keep their players.
Houston’s interest in Bridges, while sensible, may not be the best in the long run with what they’d have to surrender in order to acquire him. They have the makings of a solid foundation going forward and just need to give the kids time. 19, 20, 21 years of age and so on…they’re already progressing and in the right direction.
Lakers should target Bridges too
Every Laker is too available except stars and Reaves
Attachment is all picks and all swaps
Used to be a huge Lakers fan, but after Dr. Jerry it’s just been embarrassing even with the one championship. This team is so difficult to like.